In Memoriam: Priest Anthony Estabrooks

Peacefully departed in the Lord, September 4, 2024 at Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the age of 79 years after suffering a major stroke on Monday September 2, 2024.

He was predeceased by his parents and parents-in-law, sisters Freda and Sandra, two brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife Irene of 56 years (nee Kuz), children Jana Gerbrandt (Scott), Joy Perrott (Jeremy), Peterjohn (Nancy) Josef (Stephanie), Michelle Pahpasay, Karen Pahpasay, Robert Estabrooks all of Winnipeg and grandchildren Sam (Fiona) Reuben, Kira, Tim (Sarah) Kyle, Sean, Rebecca, Julian, Christian, James, Margaret, Eleanor and Devon.

He also leaves his brothers Stephen (Jayne), Stan (Allison) of Ottawa and sister Brenda Moriarity of Bowmanville as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

A loving husband, a dad who gave love, time and guidance, and delighted in his children and grandchildren, but above all a man of God. He studied religion, philosophy and theology at University of Toronto, Knox College, Carleton University, McMaster University and St. Andrew’s College. He was an academic whose main focus in life was to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of God” and to teach and encourage others to do the same.

Spencer’s first encounter with the Orthodox Church came in the early 1990s, when browsing through a local bookstore he happened upon a volume of the Philokalia. After reading just a few paragraphs, astounded to learn that such an exalted spirituality existed, he set out to learn if the Orthodox Church of today was in fact the same Church he encountered in this wonderful book. His search led him to St. George Orthodox Church in Winnipeg, the first Orthodox parish in Canada to offer the full cycle of Orthodox Christian worship services in the English language. Discovering with delight that the very same Church of the Philokalia was alive and well today, he was received into Holy Orthodoxy by Chrismation in 1992 under the name “Anthony”—for Saint Anthony the Great, because of St. Anthony's great example of humility.

Desiring to apply his talents to presenting the Orthodox Faith in an accessible manner to non-Orthodox Canadians, Spencer laboured to promote and expand the witness of the newly established “Mission of All Saints of North America”. The Mission was established as an entity within the Archdiocese of Canada (OCA), for the purpose of providing Orthodox worship services in the English language in the central part of Winnipeg. Its existence covered many years, during which various priests served the community in different places.

In spite of the efforts of Spencer and others to establish an English Mission, it did not seem to gain the momentum necessary to sustain itself. In any case, through their labours, groundwork was laid for the eventual establishment of the “Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring Mission”, for which Spencer would later be ordained to serve as parish priest.

Spencer’s desire to share Orthodoxy with those outside the Faith was perhaps paralleled by his desire to offer his academic talents to the building up of the Church through theological education. With the blessing of then Archbishop Seraphim of the Canadian Archdiocese, the “Saint Arseny Orthodox Christian Theological Institute” was established in 2002—with Spencer as its director, in order to address the long-standing need to provide affordable and accessible Orthodox theological education in Canada. The education was to be provided completely in the English language (and eventually French), for members of the Archdiocese of Canada (as well as other Orthodox Christians and interested non-Orthodox people), adapted to the unique situations, cultural circumstances, needs and opportunities of the scattered Orthodox population in a huge country.

The mission of the Institute was to provide leadership in developing comprehensive Orthodox theological education for the Archdiocese of Canada, covering a spectrum beginning with catechesis for those inquiring into the Orthodox Christian Faith, and continuing with education of the Faithful in the churches, training for various ministries within the Church, including lay ministries and clergy (readers, deacons, and priests), and culminating in on-going education and renewal for clergy, thus filling in the usual large gap existing in North America between parish programmes of education on the one hand, and seminary training on the other.

In 2006, the Mission of All Saints was re-formed within the Archdiocese under the new name of the “Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring”. After the Mission’s first priest (Father Andrew Jarmus) was transferred to the central office of the OCA, Spencer was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in order to serve the Mission and continue the work begun earlier. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Irénée (Rochon), then Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, on Saturday, January 30th, 2010, at Holy Trinity Sobor in Winnipeg. Deacon Anthony was ordained to the Holy Priesthood the following morning of Sunday, January 31st, at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Narol, Manitoba.

Father Anthony served the Mission faithfully for the next several years, in the lower hall of Saint Philip's Anglican Church (Norwood) in Saint Boniface—a portion of Winnipeg on the east side of the Red River. During this time, Father continued to serve as director and as an instructor of the Saint Arseny Institute. When, by the blessing of Archbishop Irénée, the Mission was incorporated into Holy Trinity Sobor in North Winnipeg in 2017, the stabilizing influence of Father's pastoral love supported his flock through the transition and integration into the larger parish community.

His priestly service at Christ’s holy altar, his constant example of self-emptying love, his ability to reflect with profound depth upon the theological dimensions of current events, and his great desire that all would come to have intimate knowledge of the love of God, will surely have a lasting impact upon the many people who have been nourished by his life—family members, parishioners,  and neighbours. His was truly a life poured out for Christ.

Father found great fulfillment in serving God in these ways. Sadly, he began showing signs of dementia in 2018 and could not continue to serve in the altar—although he could still be counted on to have answers when anyone had questions. A great example of humility, both in sickness and health. A deeply loved and respected man of faith. He will not be forgotten.

May his memory be eternal!

Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2255 Grant Ave at 6:00 p.m. followed by a reception.

A Funeral Liturgy will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Demetrios with Father Phillip Eriksson and fellow priests officiating. Interment will follow at St. Nicholas Narol Cemetery 5635 Henderson Hwy.

Donations may be made to one of the following: